Abstract
BackgroundVertical facial pattern may be related to the direction of pull of the masticatory muscles, yet its effect on occlusal force and elastic deformation of the mandible still is unclear. This study tested whether the variation in vertical facial pattern is related to the variation in maximum occlusal force (MOF) and medial mandibular flexure (MMF) in 51 fully-dentate adults.MethodsData from cephalometric analysis according to the method of Ricketts were used to divide the subjects into three groups: Dolichofacial (n = 6), Mesofacial (n = 10) and Brachyfacial (n = 35). Bilateral MOF was measured using a cross-arch force transducer placed in the first molar region. For MMF, impressions of the mandibular occlusal surface were made in rest (R) and in maximum opening (O) positions. The impressions were scanned, and reference points were selected on the occlusal surface of the contralateral first molars. MMF was calculated by subtracting the intermolar distance in O from the intermolar distance in R. Data were analysed by ANCOVA (fixed factors: facial pattern, sex; covariate: body mass index (BMI); alpha = 0.05).ResultsNo significant difference of MOF or MMF was found among the three facial patterns (P = 0.62 and P = 0.72, respectively). BMI was not a significant covariate for MOF or MMF (P > 0.05). Sex was a significant factor only for MOF (P = 0.007); males had higher MOF values than females.ConclusionThese results suggest that MOF and MMF did not vary as a function of vertical facial pattern in this Brazilian sample.
Highlights
Vertical facial pattern may be related to the direction of pull of the masticatory muscles, yet its effect on occlusal force and elastic deformation of the mandible still is unclear
The a priori hypothesis was that maximum occlusal force (MOF) and medial mandibular flexure (MMF) vary as a function of vertical facial pattern
No significant difference of MOF or MMF was found among the three facial patterns (P = 0.62 and P = 0.72, respectively) (Table 2)
Summary
Vertical facial pattern may be related to the direction of pull of the masticatory muscles, yet its effect on occlusal force and elastic deformation of the mandible still is unclear. A recent review on mandibular muscles and vertical facial pattern highlighted that there is no conclusive evidence of the influence of mandibular muscles on normal growth and development of the face [4]. It still is unknown whether craniofacial morphology, or pattern, has an impact on function, and whether muscular function affects facial geometry. Maximum occlusal force (MOF) may be considered a measure of masticatory muscles function because represents the effort exerted between the maxillary and mandibular teeth when the mandible is elevated. Raadsheer et al [6] stated that the magnitude of MOF depends on the size of the jaw muscles and the lever arm lengths of MOF and muscle forces, which would be related to craniofacial morphology
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